Oldham McNeal “Neal” Delano, Jr., 58, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan. 28.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Oldham and Virginia Ann Delano. He is survived by two sisters, Diane Delano Wilder (Phillip) of Bowling Green and Sylvia Delano Fogg of St. Stephens Church; a brother, Glenn Delano of Edwardsville, and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Neal was born on April 17, 1956, in Fairport, Virginia. He grew up to be a “Waterman” following in his father’s footsteps. He lived at the home place and worked on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River until his father’s retirement. He was a member of Fairport Baptist Church and was a 1975 graduate of Northumberland High School.
Neal was a humble man and had a God-given talent to build work boats, the kind that is used by the watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. He never drew a blueprint or sketch of what he was going to build. He had the vision in his head and ordered the lumber for it, and he needed it. This is work he did in his spare time, and he truly enjoyed it. He made several boats and sold them.
When Neal became ill and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he moved to the Bowling Green Health and Rehab Center. A funeral service to celebrate his life was held Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. in Wicomico Baptist Church, Remo, Virginia, with burial following in the church cemetery. The family received friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Contributions in memory of Neal can be made to Fairport Baptist Church or Mary Washington Hospice. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.storkefuneralhome.com.